GB

First of all, I was pleased to read Chris' comments. I am not familiar with Barthes'ideas. However, I suspect we are looking for crumbs of comfort in the wrong place.

1. When you look at any candidates' vote you should be careful of assuming they all support that person and his/her ideas. A small number vote for somebody out of all kinds of reasons - position on the list of candidates, confusion about name, etc. We can treat this as insignificant when a candidate attracts a large vote, however, on a very small vote (say around 200) this is a significant part of the total.

2. Some of these candidates did not deserve any votes. Scargill's SLP, the WRP jump out here. Each would impose a dictatorship if they fell into power. The fact that they have ideas about broad social equality imposed from above should not fool us - the 20th century showed what these ideas can end up as.

3. Tariq Ali and many others on the left proposed tactical voting against pro-war Labour MPs. They went on to vote Lib Dem in many places, others voted Green. These people are not lost to a serious socialist project.

4. The overall picture is that there is a huge number of socialists who could be sympathetic to our ideas. They are, sadly, homeless and they either have never heard of or don't like the look of our little shack. The question is how many these people can be drawn together into a movement.

5. The SSP looked like the best hope as a model. Apart from RESPECT (which is still in some senses on the left) very few candidates reached 4 figures. Some SSP people did, Nellist and one of his comrades in Coventry, as did a handful of others.

6. Chris is right about the performance in which minor differences are turned into something grand, etc. However, I have a feeling (no more) that the electorate is moving away from the centre ground. On one side there was a growth of the BNP and on the other an angry rejection of Blair and war. The hostility to PFI had no way of being is expressed in most places alongside other popular beliefs which are to the left of the political establishment.

7. As we explored over the poll tax, taxation matters. A widespread public reluctance to be taxed is behind this election. PFI is an expression of this. The Tories remain stuck between their love of tax cuts and their fears over our defence of public services. Thus, they are like apprentice conjurers - every attempt at deception is obvious.
Almost everybody in all classes rejects the right of the state to make them cough up. The attitude to the state behind this is one of profound hostility.

Well, this is not deeply considered but I hope it adds to the discussion.